620 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



there. In stimulating, by every means in my 

 power, the growth of the Museum and the 

 means of education connected with it, I am 

 far from having a selfish wish to see my own 

 department tower above the others. I wish 

 that every one of my colleagues would make 

 it hard for me to keep up with him, and there 

 are some among them, I am happy to say, who 

 are ready to run a race with me. Perhaps, 

 after all, I am taking up the cudgels against 

 you rather prematurely. If I had not been 

 called to New Haven, Sunday before last, by 

 Professor Silliman's funeral, I should have 

 been present at your lecture myself. Having 

 missed it, I may have heard this passage in- 

 accurately repeated. If so, you must forgive 

 me, and believe me always, whatever you did 

 or did not say, 



Ever truly your friend, 



Louis AGASSIZ. 



FROM RALPH WALDO EMERSON. 



CONCORD, December 13, 1864. 



DEAR AGASSIZ, I pray you have no fear 

 that I did, or can, say any word unfriendly to 

 you or to the Museum, for both of which 

 blessings the cause and the effect I daily 

 thank Heaven ! May you both increase and 

 multiply for ages ! 



